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Creative and innovative uses of online video

2009-07-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

Now that YouTube is a household name and more and more users have taken to watching long-form video on sites like Hulu, the question isn't whether video on the web will thrive, but what the future of online video will look like. There are many news organizations and tech companies who are exploring the next wave of online video or using existing video technology in creative ways. Here are a few examples of whats new, now and next.

Map mashups have become a staple in newsrooms around the world, but Vidmap is taking the technology to the next level by marrying video with dynamic maps. The example video below shows a car traveling in Meissen, Germany while the map on the left tracks its exact route.

The technology is similar to what the New York Times incorporated into its multimedia piece on the city's marathon: a street-level video of the route that moved in tandem with an adjacent map of the city.

Dipity, the site where users can create their own embeddable timelines, already made it easy for users to plot video on a timeline. One of its latest projects, TimeTube, takes advantage of the technology, allowing anyone to input a search term and watch related YouTube videos arranged chronologically on a timeline.

Most collections of YouTube video that appear on any given site are likely one long string of videos embedded one after the other. To bring the periodic table of the elements to life, the University of Nottingham ditched the list format and instead made the periodic table itself interactive. When a user clicks on an element, an embedded video pops up that discusses and showcases that element in a series of compelling video clips.

Of course, one cannot discuss innovative online video without highlighting GOOD Magazine and its unique video offerings, available both on its site and on YouTube. GOOD isn't the first organization to create animation or motion graphics, but it is one of the few to use these technologies in a journalism context — whether it be visualizing Barack Obama's résumé or explaining the concept of "vampire energy" (below).

And then there's video itself. There are a wide range of video cameras out there, but journalists often limit themselves to the same few devices.

CBS 4 producer Gio Benitez used a story about the iPhone 3GS to show off the mobile device's video-shooting capabilities, using the phone itself to record interviews for the story. There is a noticeable quality difference, but what better way to illustrate new technology than to use the technology itself? Read more about the response to the story here.

Finally, another relatively new technology that few journalists have taken advantage of is high definition, slow motion photography. Broadcast news nowadays is anything but slow, but the web offers a unique opportunity for illustrating the world around us at a slower pace, allowing the user to soak in details that otherwise would have gone unnoticed.

Examples include this HD video clip from the BBC program "South Pacific" of a surfer riding a giant wave, shot in slow motion to illustrate the beauty of the experience. The Discovery Channel also used slow motion video to capture a great white shark attacking a seal, shot at 150th of its actual speed. And in a showreel designed to demonstrate the capabilities of the SprintCam V3 HD system, the video below of a rugby match and other events shows how sometimes slower is better.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• 15 Tips for shooting online video
• 6 Creative approaches to photography
• A quick guide to interactive YouTube videos
• 12 Creative uses of time-lapse photography (and 4 ways to create it)
• How to shoot great video quickly and efficiently

Why being an unemployed journalist is the best thing to ever happen to me

2009-07-13T09:06:00.000-07:00

When I was first told that I was being laid off from my journalism job back in December, I was devastated. I thought because of my rare technical skills and demonstrated passion for the job that there was no way I would ever be fired, even though I saw the mass layoffs that were happening all around me. It was a further blow to my ego when I realized that months later I was still unemployed along with thousands of other journalists.

The gravity of the situation brought on a whole range of emotions — anger, despair, hopelessness — until I realized that even though I was devastated financially, I was in fact growing creatively; even though the bills were stacked a mile high, that this was the incubation period that every journalist transitioning to new media hopes for.

Journalism is requiring its reporters, editors, and staff to adopt technical skills that fall outside of everything they've ever known, but is not providing a way for people to learn them. Newsrooms aren't shutting down operations just to do training sessions. Journalists can't take time off because they want to learn video or audio editing. Those that do want to self improve must either self-train in their spare time or hope to be given time off to attend training workshops.

It took a few months for me to realize it, but I had indeed been given a special opportunity to hone my craft and share my passion with others. Self discovery doesn't pay the bills and news of being laid off is nothing a journalist wants to hear, but I take solace in the fact that creativity thrives in the most oppressive times of one's life.

I started 10,000 Words two years ago and, at its start, churned out some pretty crappy posts. The down time allowed me to go back and fix or improve the posts that I wasn't proud of. I finally had a chance to redesign the site without worrying about time constrictions. 10,000 Words also became the forum for me to create the journalism projects that I perhaps wouldn't have time to do while working a full-time job. These include the offbeat A is for Audio: The ABCs of Multimedia, the poignant mini-site journalism is dead, and the photo slideshow The Typography of East Hollywood, a project I'd been wanting to produce for months.

The time away from journalism has helped me find my inspiration, to remember why I am a multimedia journalist in the first place. I've taken day trips to museums to see the interactive exhibits. I've attended (free) conferences to hear about not only what's being done to revitalize journalism, but the amazing technological advances that are happening outside of the journalism bubble. I'm even nearing the final stages of writing my first book, an encapsulation of this blog that I hope will be available at the end of the summer.

Of course, I'm not the only one to take advantage of being laid off. Unemployed journalists everywhere are using the experience as a starting point to create their own forms of journalism. The Arizona Guardian was founded by a group of journalists laid off from the East Valley Tribune. New Jersey Newsroom was created by former employees of the Star-Ledger. Everywhere journalists are creating new business models that may shape the future of the industry.

And this, my friends, is why all the talk of journalism dying is hooey. If I and thousands of other journalists continue to conduct and improve our craft without the means or the resources to do so, then there is hope for journalism after all. I see the future of journalism in the eyes of downsized journalists who, despite their circumstance, maintain their optimism for the industry and in the bright-eyed students who flock to journalism despite widespread news of its demise.

And while I don't hope to be unemployed forever, I cherish this time as a boon to my creativity, my resolve and as encouragement that there are better times ahead.

Also on 10,000 Words:

•Essential multimedia tutorials and resources for do-it-yourself training
•Journalism Grads: 30 Things You Should Do This Summer
•10 Things I wish they'd told me in J-School
•Journalists: Change starts with you

10 Inspirational New York Times multimedia and interactive features

2009-07-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

The New York Times, often lauded as one of the greatest producers of multimedia journalism, is inspirational not just because of the dazzling technologies that it uses to bring stories to life (Flash, databases, slideshows), but because of the selected stories themselves. While it has been said before on this site that there are a great many other news services creating amazing work, the Times remains a forerunner in the marriage of technology and journalism. Here are few of the Times' most impressive recent works:

1. How Do You Feel About the Economy?

Beginning in March of this year, The New York Times asked online readers to submit their personal reactions to the failing economy in a single word. The adjectives from both the employed and unemployed scroll across the screen in a simple interface that shows just how Americans are feeling about the financial crisis.

Similar projects were created to monitor the Twitter chatter during this year's Super Bowl and to visualize Americans' hopes for the incoming Obama administration.

2. The Ebb and Flow of Movies

Many movies have appeared and disappeared from box office charts over the years, some making a bigger splash than others. For this project, the Times team took on the daunting task of visually representing the movies that topped the charts — from 2008's Alvin and the Chipmunks to 1986's Out of Africa. Best of all, by clicking on the shapes, one can read more of the Times' coverage of that particular movie, including summaries, reviews and trailers.

3. One in 8 Million

The New York Times at it's core is a newspaper about New York City and its millions of inhabitants. For the elegantly styled audio slideshow series "One in 8 Million," the Times turned its lens not to the newsmakers of the city but to the (not-so) average citizens who make the city the unique metropolis that it is.

4. The Water Dance

The web is filled with tens of thousands of audio slideshows, so for one in particular to stand out from the rest is a remarkable feat. "The Water Dance," a slideshow narrated by Times photographer Bill Cunningham, takes a simple idea — New Yorkers navigating the huge puddles of rain that line the city's curbs — and turns it into three and a half minutes of whimsy. The humorous photos are underscored by Cunningham's cheerful and amused voice that encourages the viewer to indulge in the humor as well.

5. New York City Homicides Map

The Times' recently released visual database of homicides over the span of six years not only concentrates on specific incidents over statistics, but it also encourages users to find patterns within the data and report them to the staff. The map is navigable down to street level and the information can be sorted by a number of contributing factors, including race, sex, age and weapon used.

6. Going to the End of the Line

Another multimedia story in the paper's tradition of finding news in people or places that are often overlooked, "End of the Line" is a collection of slideshows that highlight the last subway stop on various train lines — some of which many New Yorkers will never see. These places aren't no man's lands either; they are often thriving communities worthy of the beautiful reporting and photography.

7. Casualties of War

In recognition of the men and women who have lost their lives in Iraq, the Times aggregated statistics and the stories behind them in a three-part multimedia story. The first, "Faces of the Dead," combines a unique visual navigation tool and a traditional search function to identify each person killed in the region. The second portion groups the servicemen and women by demographic, including age, race, branch and the location of their death. The third uses audio to tell the stories of nine soldiers who were killed, using the voices of those who served alongside them.

8. Passing the Torch: An Evolution of Form

The likely unsung hero of the Olympic Games is the Olympic torch itself. The symbol of the Games travels throughout the world until it arrives at its final destination and is a symbol of peace and athleticism. The torch itself has changed over the years and this interactive gallery shows the dramatic revisions it has undergone.

9. Inaugural Words - 1789 to the Present

To commemorate the 2009 inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama, the Times brought together the inaugural speeches of every U.S. president in one interactive story. The full text of each address is available for reading, but for those history buffs in a hurry, each speech is represented in word clouds, which gives a quicker synopsis of the issues of the day.

Also worth checking out are the Times' annotated video of Obama's inaugural speech and "Obama's People," a photo story centered around the incoming administration.

10. Fold-Ins, Past and Present

Finally, as proof that not all multimedia or interactive stories have to be heavy and serious, the Times presented a series of fold-ins from Mad Magazine in interactive form. Users were invited to relive their childhoods and discover the messages hidden in the iconic back page, no creasing necessary.

For more on the team behind many of the aforementioned projects, check out the New York Magazine article on the paper's "renegades."

Also on 10,000 Words:

• Where to find the best in Flash journalism
• New York City, a mecca of multimedia journalism
• Create brilliant multimedia projects from the mundane
• Great online journalism from non-traditional journalists

Why having technical skills alone just won't cut it

2009-07-03T06:48:00.000-07:00

Last week's post on the 30 skills every journalism graduate should learn this summer garnered attention for pointing out technology every newly-minted journalist should know. As several commenters suggested, the checklist is also applicable to established journalists, as is the following advice:

As this Yanko Design post points out, being a Jack of all trades is only the starting point. Journalism and its associated technologies are changing at a rapid pace and to learn one skill set is to be left in the dust. Sadly some of the technologies on the list will be obsolete in just a few years time. To survive in this industry means continuously evolving along with it.

This isn't limited to veteran journalists either. There are many "new media" journalists who adopted an enviable skill set some years ago, but haven't picked up anything new since. At the heart of a good new media journalist is flexibility and adaptability.

Additionally, it doesn't matter if you have every new media skill in existence if no one knows you exist. This means having and distributing business cards, having an online portfolio and sharing it with others and not just accumulating lots of Twitter followers or LinkedIn connections but actually interacting with them and establishing contacts in and outside of the journalism sphere.

Most of all, success in journalism requires a strong grounding in the fundamentals: knowing how to write (well), how to interview, how to speak to others and how to quickly establish trust and relationships. Without these skills, there is no reason to even learn the technologies that are transforming the industry. Learning a slew of technical skills isn't the answer, it's just part of the journalism equation.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• Journalism Grads: 30 Things You Should Do This Summer
• The 20 Essential RSS Feeds for Multimedia Journalists
• 10 Things I wish they'd told me in J-School

How the media reacted to the sudden death of Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T11:15:00.000-07:00

When a cultural figurehead dies suddenly — as in the recent cases of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon — newsrooms are often left scrambling to produce not only print and broadcast retrospectives, but multimedia and interactive stories as well. Planning ahead on how to address such breaking news, as highlighted in this post, is key to reacting to such events in a timely matter.

One of the quickest multimedia elements to create in the event of an unforeseen death is a photo slideshow, which many media organizations produced after Michael Jackson's passing.

NBC Los Angeles combined wire and staff photos to create two photo slideshows: one of fans reactions to the news of the pop singer's death and the other a visual timeline of Jackson's storied career.

CNN, El País and The Associated Press (here, here and here) took similar approaches highlighting the singer's music and personal appearances in slideshow form.

The Los Angeles Times took a unique approach to the slideshow approach, creating a slideshow of the unique and downright bizarre art dedicated to the "King of Pop."

Mexico's El Universal took the concept even further with a self-contained Flash piece that includes photos, a timeline and an infographic. In this age of breaking news, it is not enough to know how to create multimedia or Flash-based projects but know how to produce them quickly and with little notice.

Of course, online coverage of Michael Jackson's death went beyond just slideshows. The Guardian (UK) created a dataset of every one of the singer's hit songs and is encouraging users to transform the data into visualizations or whatever they can imagine. Technology blog Chip Chick created a visual history of Jackson's contributions to technology and the New York Times created an interactive infographic of the singer's Billboard chart history.

Twitter played a large role in spreading the news of Jackson's death (view a map of "Michael Jackson" tweets here), proving once more that the news audience will not wait for traditional media to break news. The ultimate goal is not to compete with social media, but to create online content that is both timely and accurate.

Thanks to @LizRemus, @phiden, @chilango2, @lfmccullough, @jisa39, @NBCLocal, DannyDougherty and @brainwise for their suggestions for this post.

Also on 10,000 Words:
• Do you have a multimedia emergency plan?
• Where to find the best in Flash journalism
• 5 Common photo slideshow mistakes

Journalism Grads: 30 Things You Should Do This Summer

2009-06-25T06:50:00.000-07:00

You could spend this summer working on your killer tan... or you could use the downtime to get heads up on the thousands of other grads competing for journalism jobs. Use this checklist to improve your journalism skills and set yourself apart from the pack:

1. Start a blog and post at least twice a week

2. If you already have a blog, write a post that gets retweeted 20 times

3. Shoot 100 amazing photos and post them on Flickr

4. Friend at least 50 journalists on Twitter who in turn follow you back

5. Become a part of a crowdsourcing project (start here)

6. Improve at least 5 Wikipedia entries

7. Create an audio slideshow using Soundslides

8. Shoot and edit a 3-minute video and post it to YouTube

9. Design a website from scratch using HTML and CSS

10. Create and maintain a Delicious account with at least 50 links that you find interesting

11. Create an online portfolio

12. Learn at least one other form of blogging (e.g. photoblogging, videoblogging, liveblogging)

13. Crop, resize, and color correct 50 photos using photo editing software

14. Start your own podcast

15. Create a profile on LinkedIn

16. Learn another computer language besides HTML (e.g. XML, PHP, MySQL)

17. Create an avatar and use it on all your social networking profiles

18. Learn how to create a basic slideshow in Flash

19. Subscribe to at least 25 non-journalism blogs using an RSS reader

20. Record, edit and embed a 3-minute piece of audio.

21. Interview 10 people using a handheld audio recorder

22. Interview 10 people using a video camera

23. Create a map mashup using a CSV file

24. Set your social network profiles to private or remove any incriminating evidence

25. Create a multimedia project that incorporates, video, audio, and text

26. Create a Flash project that uses ActionScript 3.0

27. Write a blog post that is Dugg at least 20 times

28. Join Wired Journalists

29. Attend a multimedia training workshop or take an online course

30. Remind yourself why you want to be a journalist

UPDATE: Check out the follow-up post Why having technical skills alone just won't cut it

Also on 10,000 Words:

• How to make the most of your journalism internship
• 15 Journalists' outstanding personal portfolios
• Why J-Schools matter
• 10 Journalists you should follow on Twitter

10 Ways to improve online sports journalism

2009-06-23T06:51:00.000-07:00

Online sports coverage doesn't have to be all scores and stats. Nowadays, sports fans have a multitude of ways of experiencing the game without ever having to leave their home. Here are a few ways to give sports reporting a new media makeover using online technology.

1. Make it interactive

Sure you can try to recreate the game with clever writing or visual language, but interactive and Flash-based stories give the online user a better understanding of exactly what happened. Take for example ESPN's shot-by-shot interactive graphic of a 76ers v. Orlando Magic game, The Indianapolis Star's interactive recreation of the Indy 500 or The San Diego Union-Tribune's online tour of last year's US Open at Torrey Pines South which also includes a flyover of the course.

2. Map it

Sports games are great candidates for mapping because they can happen anywhere in the world or, in the case of the New York Times' 21 Stages of the Tour de France, all over the country. An equally interesting map was created by The Charleston Gazette for the Charleston Distance Run and the basketball court maps from Nofouls.com and Courts of the World are worth checking out.

Be sure to also take a look at the map of NBA, NFL and MLB stadiums created for a previous post on sports arenas.

3. Blog it

For every sport that exists there are at least 100 blogs dedicated it. Many mainstream media outlets, including ESPN, the Telegraph (UK), and the Star Tribune have not one but several blogs dedicated to a variety of teams.

4. Make a database

With all the stats to account for, many sports lend themselves to databases that contain useful information, like the Washington Post's NCAA Tournament database. Great databases aren't limited to scores either: The Indianapolis Star has an online record of Peyton Manning's career passes and Lost Lettermen, pictured below, has wiki-based updates of favorite college basketball and football players.

5. Make it social

No one knows more about a sport than its fans, so providing a destination where fans can talk amongst themselves and create their own content is the epitome of Web 2.0 thinking. Sites like FanDome, Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation let users post video, chat on message boards and write sports reports themselves.

6. Tweet it

Third-party sites like Twackle and SportyTweets, as well as traditional news media like Newsday use Twitter to share the latest sports updates (in 140 characters or less, of course). Or, to up the ante, take a cue from the New York Times' map of Twitter chatter during the 2009 Super Bowl.

7. Make it mobile

For the sports fan on the go there a number of different ways to stay up to date using a mobile phone. CBC.ca created a mobile-friendly guide to the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs and CBS Sports is available in its entirety by mobile phone. There are what seems to be an endless amount of sports-related iPhone apps, including Sportacular and MLB.com At Bat, which is also available for the BlackBerry.

8. Podcast it

There's nothing sports fans love more than talking about sports. Give the sports talk show an online overhaul by creating dedicated podcasts produced by those who love the game. Check out the Guardian's football (soccer) podcast or the KCRW'S The Score for inspiration.

9. Widgetize it

A part of new media thinking is knowing that readers don't necessarily want to have to visit your site to read the latest news. The same goes for sports news. Online news sites like CBS News, USA Today, and the Telegraph have produced widgets that contain the latest scores, news and even video, all of which can be posted across the web.

10. Let the fans decide

There are a million sports stories floating around the web, so how does one decide which are reading? BallHype takes a Digg-like approach to sports news by letting fans vote on the stories are worth reading. Best of all the top stories can be filtered by sport.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• Sports arenas: How to put a multimedia twist on traditional coverage
• How to tackle the online sports section
• Sports fans are the new citizen journalists
• 6 Newspaper sections rendered obsolete by the web

Where the magic happens: Interactive and virtual newsroom tours

2009-06-16T05:32:00.000-07:00

The average reader or viewer will never see the inside of a newsroom and sadly will never experience the electricity of reporters and editors working together to gather the day's news. Newsrooms have long been shrouded in a veil of secrecy, so why should they bother letting outsiders in on the experience?

Imagine having a friend with whom you talked every day, but knew nothing about where they lived or never visited their home. Newsrooms are a lot like that, but they don't have to be. Journalists can use the multimedia tools they use to bring stories to life to cover themselves. The following virtual tours combine photos, audio, video and/or slideshows to give users insight on the institutions and journalists who represent their interests.

The Sky News Virtual Newsroom combines three-dimensional animated recreations of various news departments with interviews of the people who work there. The overall effect shows just how complicated newsrooms can be, but also how many people it takes to create the news.

Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore is your virtual tour guide to the "studio of the future," a Flash-based digital recreation of the channel's impressive studio. The hovering ghost-like orbs are clickable markers that describe some of the set's features, including several high-definition televisions and monitors and other hidden quirks.

In 2007, The New York Times used video and 360° interactive panoramas to create an interactive tour of its Manhattan tower. The multimedia piece also features audio from architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff.

If you're looking to recreate the panoramas seen in the project, check out this previous post on the tools used to create them.

A virtual tour doesn't have to be flashy; it could be as simple as a series of panoramic photos, like those of the New York Times newsroom posted by Flickr user imajes. The now online-only Christian Science Monitor used a relatively simple, interactive Flash graphic to illustrate the day-to-day operations of the newsroom.

Talk shows have long been the forerunners of making interactive set tours available online and there are a few that are taking the idea to the next level. The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien posted a time-lapse video of its set construction and The Rachael Ray Show, using the interactive video technology from Klickable, has created a video walkthrough of the set in which users can click various items and find out more about them, as illustrated in the screengrab below.

The overall effect of the virtual tour is to give the user an inside look out how journalism is created and take some of the mystery away from the newsgathering process. The internet is all about creating a spirit of openness and an online tour is a great way to open the newsroom doors to the public.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• 4 Organizations more tech-savvy than your newsroom
• Beyond Twitterfeed: Innovative uses of Twitter in the newsroom
• Why newsroom meetings should be made public
• 4 Sites for viewing panoramas (and 3 ways to create them)
• Essential resources for panoramic photography

A quick guide to interactive YouTube videos

2009-06-11T06:28:00.000-07:00

YouTube videos have come a long way since Evolution of Dance. Instead of just staring at the computer screen, a new crop of videos are encouraging users to interact with them by clicking on links embedded within the video. Interactive YouTube videos are being used to create games and quizzes and their use is only limited to the imagination of their creators.

First some examples of the videos, then on how to how they are created. Viewing each video on the YouTube site itself is highly recommended.

Barack, Paper, Scissors

Bboy Joker

2009 Oscars Interactive Picture Photo Hunt!

Super Mario Slots

Interactive Card Trick

YouTube Interactive Spelling Bee

Interactive YouTube videos function a lot like Choose Your Own Adventure books wherein the action comes to a crossroads and the viewer is left to make a choice to determine how the story continues.

The combined effect is a seemingly infinite number of choices, but for interactive YouTube videos it is in fact very finite: a separate video has to be created for each choice (Barack, Paper, Scissors has at least 140 different videos and thus at least 140 different outcomes).

The interactivity is created by overlaying annotations on top of the video. Annotations were previously used solely as captions or speech balloons leading viewer to another site for more information related to the video. Now they are transforming YouTube from a static video player to a tool for engaging the audience. Check out YouTube's help section for more information on how to create annotations.

The uses of interactive videos by mainstream news organizations remain to be seen, but the technology is absolutely worth exploring. The most obvious use would be to create news games, but lets hear from you: how would you use interactive YouTube video? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• Online news games are fun (and informative!)
• Newspapers on YouTube: Dos and Don'ts
• 8 Interactive online projects that educate and captivate
• Exploring the human body with Flash and video
• Where to find the best in Flash journalism

How to keep tabs on local traffic using maps and social media

2009-06-08T19:02:00.000-07:00

In the pre-internet era of television and radio, news stations could get away with 5-minute traffic reports that may or may not have covered the area the viewer was concerned about. Nowadays, no one has the patience to sit through a broadcast; they want to log on to the web, find the traffic alerts that affect them and be on their way.

Map mashups have made spotting local vehicular traffic as easy as pressing the zoom button. Google Maps itself added traffic information to its site last year, but it is the Maps API that is making traffic maps even more interactive.

iMove, which focuses on the traffic of the Vancouver area, has mashed a Google map with construction and traffic alerts, as well as traffic camera locations, weather alerts and local transit information. Users can select what they'd like to see from a series of drop down menus. The selected data is also viewable in a table below the map.

Similar maps based on various technologies are available for many parts of the world, including France, Colorado, Ottawa and England.

History is the best teacher and there is no better lesson than analyzing the roads where fatal accidents have occurred. Risky Roads, previously featured in this post, uses color-coded markers to illustrate dangerous roads across the United States. The site uses readily available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and has breakdowns for all 50 states.

Triptop NYC is another handy map that, instead of plotting real-time traffic patterns, estimated the commute between any two points in New York City. The map is not only visually stunning, it is also extremely helpful.

Of course, traffic is not limited to cars and trucks traveling on land. MarineTraffic.com maps the real-time movement of ships as they travel around the globe. As one can imagine there can be many ships traveling in any one area, so the site uses quadrants to indicate how many nautical navigators are traveling in a given area. The type of ship can be narrowed down using the checkbox system in the left rail.

The following visualization of Twitter users who have just landed from their airline flights shows that maps don't have to be static to be informative. Find out more about how this video was created here.

Web 2.0 technology means users can share traffic information with each other, creating citizen-fueled traffic reports that rival mainstream media sources. Trapster uses mobile technology to let its users plot speed traps and avoid traffic tickets. Users can submit a speed trap via their cell phone or by calling a toll-free number. By downloading the Trapster application, anyone can be alerted of speed traps in the immediate area.

Commuter Feed harnesses the power of Twitter to get traffic updates for cities around the world. Recent accidents and traffic delays can also be found by searching Twitter for location-based tweets (e.g. "traffic accident near:90018") or from from any of the Twitter accounts dedicated to area traffic reports, including @nyctraffic and @lasvegasweather

Hat tip to Google Maps Mania for the links and inspiration.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• 10 Mind-blowing maps (and 3 ways to create them)
• Weather 2.0: Interactive online tools for keeping tabs on Mother Nature
• How to quickly track natural disasters online
• 8 Ways of visualizing the news
• 5 Ways to create a Google Map in minutes

6 Unique cameras and audio recorders

2009-06-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

Sure your fancy video camera cost $2,000, but can it record underwater? No? Well if you're feeling extravagant or just have some extra funds left in the budget check out these gadgets that will take your work to new heights.

ContourHD Wearable Camera

Other helmet cameras have been featured here before, none of which captured such sweet-looking high definition video. The ContourHD records in a 1280 x 720 pixel, widescreen format at 30 or 60 frames per second and records up to 8 hours of video and audio. Be sure to check out some of the video captured by satisfied customers.

($299.99 | B&H Photo)

ProTrack Handheld Audio Recorder for iPod

Turn your iPod or iPod Touch into a powerful recording machine with this cool add-on. The ProTrack has a built-in stereo microphone and requires no cords, but also has an XLR input for connecting external mics. The recorder also comes with a headphone jack and — for 20 bucks more — a nifty tripod.

($159 | B&H Photo)

GardenWatchCam

Perfect for the horticulturally-minded photojournalist, the GardenWatchCam is a time-lapse camera that can be placed anywhere to capture nature's beauty over time. The small camera is weather-resistant and can capture photos at seven different time settings. The 1.3-megapixel camera runs on AA batteries and connects to the computer's USB port.

($139.95 | Amazon)

SRV-1 Blackfin Mobile Surveillance Robot

Let this pint-sized robot camera do all your dangerous shooting for you. The tank-like camera operates wirelessly, shoots at up to 1280 x 1024 resolution and fits in the palm of your hand. The little guy moves a foot a second and can run for 4 hours on a single charge. The SRV-1 requires some knowledge of computer programming to operate, but because it can tread where no human dare go, it is worth the effort.

($474.99 | ThinkGeek)

Infrared Flashlight Video Recorder

Sometimes journalism takes you to some dark and mysterious places. You can use your regular camera's onboard light or just use this handheld flashlight that doubles as a video camera. The flashlight records up to 15 seconds of video at 30 frames per second or 500 photos at 640 x 480 resolution with its 128MB of built-in memory. All the footage shot is downloadable via your computer's USB port.

($399.95 | Hammacher Schlemmer)

Pet's Eye View Digital Camera

Entertain Fido's ambition to become a photographer with this compact camera that fits securely on your pet's collar. The digital camera can be set at 1, 5, or 15 minute-intervals and is perfect for gaining insight on the daily lives of animals. Note: expect lots of photos of fire hydrants and worn out couches.

($49.99 | ThinkGeek)

Also on 10,000 Words:

• 30 Must-have gifts for journalists
• Crazy gadgets that are (possibly) crazy useful
• 6 Creative approaches to photography

5 iPhone applications that can revolutionize mobile journalism

2009-06-03T05:54:00.000-07:00

By now you've seen or heard about the growing number of iPhone applications available from mainstream news organizations, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Sky News. The mobile apps are a step in the right direction, but disappointingly most don't offer much beyond the ability to read or share the news stories that are available elsewhere on the web.

The iPhone is a powerful tool that can elevate journalism beyond just reading stories, but also interacting with them in new and different ways. The following applications demonstrate that the possibilities for what can be done with the technology are limitless.

1. SpotCrime

For New York City iPhone owners, finding out what crimes have occurred in the neighborhood is as easy as launching the SpotCrime app and viewing crimes on a map. Users enter an address and the app plots recent crimes, including burglary, theft, assault, on a Google map. The information is also available in an easy to scan, text-based list.

SpotCrime is available online for neighborhoods all over the United States, and is similar to the many crime maps produced by news and independent organizations. Yet it is the unique mobile offering that is unrivaled by the media outlets who are often the gatekeepers of such data and statistics.

2. Kindle for iPhone

The popularity of the Kindle and its companion iPhone app are proof that users are more than willing to read long passages of text on handheld devices. This is good news for media outlets to looking make lengthy content available to mobile readers.

With hundreds of thousands of books available for reading on the iPhone and iPod Touch, there is hope for the 50,000-word news stories that have been ditched in favor of the quick, bite-sized information available on the web. The concept also introduces a possible revenue stream in which media outlets can charge for the subscription service or for the individual stories themselves, the incentive being the expanded stories/coverage are available for on-the-go reading.

3. Howcast

Several iPhone apps developed by mainstream media offer news video that has been repackaged from on-air or online broadcasts and made available for the iPhone. Howcast is no different, but instead of news stories, the site offers how to videos on a range of subjects — from how to make sushi to how to master online career networking.

It's time for newspapers to stop looking at the front page as the only source of material for iPhone applications. Many papers offer content in other sections that can be transformed into handy iPhone apps. For example, the archived recipes from the food section could be made available to the cook on the go and the entertainment listings are perfect mobile material for the last-minute thrill seeker.

4. iheart radio

There are what seems like a million radio apps available in the iTunes store that offer a variety of ways to hear music or live radio stations. iheart radio, the free application from Clear Channel radio, is no different. What is remarkable is that the app has been downloaded by more than a million users and increased the Clear Channel Radio audience by 15 percent. Such a large percentage of new listeners is enviable by anyone's standards and is all the more reason to pursue mobile applications.

iheart radio, which is also available online and for the Blackberry lets users pick a radio station by city or genre and listen directly from their mobile device.

5. HearPlanet

The HearPlanet app is a lot like having a tour guide in your pocket: audio clips that describe thousands of landmarks around the world or available with a tap of the finger. The application, which has both free and paid versions, includes interactive maps and a GPS-based function to find audio tours of nearby locations.

Like SpotCrime, there is a massive opportunity for journalism organizations to aggregate location-based/geotagged news and make it available in a mobile environment. Whereas SpotCrime is useful for time-based incidents, HearPlanet serves as a model for showcasing evergreen content that has been produced or written about a particular location. For example, if a user wanted to find out more about a park they were visiting, they could launch the figurative app and find news stories on the park's dedication, its history, previous events that had been held there and yes, even the crimes that were committed there.

Many media organizations lack the funds or resources to produce iPhone apps, but it shouldn't stop everyone from imagining or working toward the next best thing in mobile journalism. If resources are a problem, consider creating a mobile-friendly or iPhone-friendly site to capitalize on the growing crop of readers using mobile devices.

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9 Things You Didn't Know About Newspapers

2009-05-29T09:39:00.000-07:00

Yomiuri Shimbun of Japan has the world's largest newspaper circulation with an estimated 14,000,000 subscribers. In fact, 6 of the top 7 largest newspapers are based in Japan, according to the World Association of Newspapers.

There is at least one newspaper available in every continent of the world, including The Antarctic Sun of Antarctica.

Of the 429 U.S. newspapers viewable at the Newseum's daily archive, 123 — or 28 percent — use some variation of the familiar Gothic font in their masthead.

Anne Royall, born 1769 and considered by some to be the first professional female journalist in the US, was also the first woman to interview a US president: John Quincy Adams.

The world's smallest newspaper, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is the First News of Surrey, England. The tiny tabloid measured in at only 1.25 x 0.86 in (32 x 22 mm).

The newspaper with the largest number of Pulitzer Prizes is the New York Times with 101.

You've probably heard the New York Times' famous slogan "All the News That's Fit to Print." But how about the Aspen Daily News' motto "If You Don't Want It Printed, Don't Let It Happen" or the Mason Valley News of Yerington, Nevada's proclamation "The Only Newspaper in the World That Gives a Damn About Yerington."

At 210 years old, The Dartmouth, founded in 1799, is the United States' oldest college newspaper.

The Washington Post has its own theme song, aptly titled "The Washington Post March," composed in 1889 by John Phillip Sousa. The familiar tune was commissioned by newspaper management and can still be heard at many parades.

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Multimedia and interactive guides to the U.S. Supreme Court

2009-05-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

With President Barack Obama's recent nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court, many are left wondering who are the justices and what exactly it is the Supreme Court. Thanks to the internet, the inner workings of the Court can be explained visually, bringing to life the centuries-old government institution.

In response to news of the nomination, Congressional Quarterly has detailed the sometimes lengthy nomination process in an easy to use interactive bar chart. The stages of each nominee's confirmation are lined up side-by-side to give the user an idea of the complicated process.

Congressional Quarterly also has a compelling slideshow of the history of Supreme Court nominees that is worth a look. Other news media that have taken the online slideshow approach include the Huffington Post, which showcases photos of Sotomayor's childhood and family, and Pinko Magazine, which, in a more humorous approach, selects the top 13 television judges Obama should have nominated to the vacant seat.

Earlier this month, the New York Times asked its online readers who they thought should be President Obama's pick for the court. Visitors were presented with an interactive graphic that contained bios of possible candidates. Readers overwhelmingly chose Sotomayor to replace Justice David Souter after his retirement.

Back in 2005, the Times published a comprehensive interactive graphic of major court decisions and the judges that presided over them that is still relevant today. The information is sortable by year or by issue.

PBS has a wealth of online information about the Supreme Court itself, including a video series that traces the history of the Court back to the early 1800s and a text-based timeline that reviews some of the major court cases. The site also hosts an interactive quiz that questions visitors on the Supreme Court cases that affect our daily lives.

CNN has an entire multimedia package devoted to the Supreme Court and Sotomayor's nomination, including videos, timelines and a photo of gallery of the eight remaining justices. HowStuffWorks also has several videos that detail the history of the Court.

With all this talk about the inner workings of the Supreme Court, wouldn't it be better to just to see it for yourself? The Oyez Project, the go-to online resource for all things SCOTUS-related, has virtual tours of the Supreme Court building, the courtroom and the justices' chambers. The 360° panoramic images are made possible by the internet and are an invaluable inside look that in the pre-internet age could only be described with text.

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10 News photos that took retouching too far

2009-05-21T08:27:00.000-07:00

Many news photographs are Photoshopped here and there to increase clarity or to optimize for print or online display. But there have been several instances where retouching has been pushed too far, changing the original intent or accuracy of the photo.

National Geographic, February 1982

The revered magazine was accused of altering a photograph so that the Egyptian pyramids were closer together and thus fit on the vertical cover. The mag's editors were allegedly unapologetic about creating a more aesthetically pleasing cover. Rich Clarkson, director of photography at National Geographic during the time, said he had no ethical problem with combining two photographs into a single cover picture, although "some publications could start abusing."

OJ Simpson, TIME Magazine, June 1994

When a darkened mugshot of troubled football star appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine, it was deemed artistic interpretation. Critics accused the mag of blackening OJ Simpson's skin to make him appear more animalistic and incite racial sentiments. It didn't help that an unaltered photo of Simpson appeared on a Newsweek cover that same week.

Soldier in Basra, Los Angeles Times, March 2003

Original photos

Published photo

Photographer Brian Walski was fired from his position at the Los Angeles Times after it was discovered that two news photographs of a gun-toting soldier had been combined to create a more intense photo. When later asked why he had digitally manipulated the photo and risked his career Walski replied: "I knew what I was doing. It looked good. It looked better than what I had, and I said 'wow.'"

Condoleezza Rice, USA Today, October 2005

Original, published photo

An Associate Press photo that appeared on the USA Today website showed then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice with unusually menacing eyes, a result of too much retouching. Some questioned whether the effect had been created deliberately as it was difficult to easily replicate. The offending photo was quickly removed and replaced with a version much closer to the original and an apology from the paper's photo editor.

Tibetan railroad, Liu Weiqiang, 2006

If this award-winning photo of Tibetan antelopes and a nearby train seems a bit askew, it's because it is a combination of two separate photographs.

Photographer Liu Weiqiang merged the images after waiting for two weeks for the perfect photo with no success. Despite his earnestness, he was eventually blacklisted by several Chinese news outlets.

The Charlotte Observer, July 2006

The image of a firefighter against a blazing sky, shot by award-winning photographer Patrick Schneider, was later revealed to be a retouched version of the original in which the sky appeared to be a "brownish-gray." Schneider had previously been reprimanded for adding intensity in the color and backgrounds of his photos and was eventually fired from his position.

Beirut fires, Reuters, August 2006

Original photo

Published photo

Reuters was accused of bias against Israel when a doctored photo of the capital city of Lebanon was released by the wire service. The photo, submitted by Lebanese freelance photographer Adnan Hajj, shows (badly) cloned smoke and buildings and a darkened skyline. Reuters ultimately broke all ties with Hajj, who was accused of retouching other photos as well.

The Toledo Blade, April 2007

Veteran news photographer and Pulitzer Prize finalist Allan Detrich resigned from his post at the Blade after it was discovered that at least 79 of his photos had been Photoshopped beyond the standards of the paper. In the photo below, a ball had been added to increase the drama of a basketball game.

Original, published photo

The Blade later removed all of Detrich's photos from its website and issued an in-depth explanation and apology.

Papal delegation, Liberty Times, December 2007

In the previous examples, the photographs were retouched to enhance the beauty or impact. The following photo was edited to remove a rival publisher (center).

Original photo

Published photo

The Taiwanese newspaper was accused of digitally removing United Daily News Wang Shaw-lan from a photo of a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. Liberty Times reporter Chang Ning-hsing said she edited out the publisher because the picture was too large and that Wang was not an "essential presence."

Klavs Bo Christensen, April 2009

After submitting his stunning photos of Haiti to a Danish photo contest, Christensen was asked to submit the original RAW files as well. The difference was remarkable and the contest judges disqualified the photos, calling them "extreme" and "unacceptable." Christensen admitted that he had heavily processed the photos, but maintained that the result was within his limits.

Original photo

Published photo

In many newsrooms it is unethical to pass off a retouched photo as reality. Ideally, retouching of a news photograph should be limited to basic exposure and color correction, cropping, resizing, or conversion to grayscale. Any Photoshopping that alters the meaning of the original photo should be labeled as a "news illustration" in the caption so the viewer understands the photo has been altered.

Retouching may seem innocent, but can have a profound effect on the way we remember an event, according to a 2007 study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology.

"Any media that employ digitally doctored photographs will have a stronger effect than merely influencing our opinion – by tampering with our malleable memory, they may ultimately change the way we recall history," said researcher Dario Sacchi.

For more on the ethics of news photography, check out the National Press Photographers Association's code of ethics.

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4 Organizations more tech-savvy than your newsroom

2009-05-18T19:06:00.000-07:00

1. The White House

Just a few months ago, the new presidential administration was greeted with antiquated computers and technology that forbade access to social networks like Facebook or even outside email. Fast forward to today and there are now a variety of ways to connect and interact online with the White House.

The official White House site has been revamped and updated to include a blog to keep the world abreast of President Obama and crew. The site also contains a number of photo slideshows based largely on photos from the official Flickr photostream.

The White House's official YouTube channel contains loads of speeches and press briefings and — to dispel earlier allegations of technology favoritism — the same content is also available on Vimeo.

After Barack Obama's landmark use of social networking during his presidential campaign it should come as no surprise that the White House is also friending people across the world. The president's pad has more than 126,000 followers on Twitter and follows a number of government agencies, including FEMA and NASA.

The White House also has more than 205,000 fans on Facebook and the president himself has more than six million fans, more than anyone else on the site. The White House is also on MySpace, along with both President Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden.

2. The Vatican

As highlighted in this month's issue of mental_floss magazine, The Vatican — the centuries-old religious institution — is also down with new technology.

The official newspaper of The Vatican, L'Osservatore Romano, is available online in several languages as are many programs from Vatican Radio. The official radio station of Vatican City also has podcasts available for listening or to download.

Flickr photo of Pope Benedict XVI by Paul Resh

The Vatican's official YouTube has almost 200 videos that range from morning prayers to papal visits. The Vatican even has its own iPhone app that contains prayers and scriptural readings and is available in six languages.

3. Major League Baseball

MLB has all the bases covered with its wide range of ways to follow games electronically. The most impressive offering is MLB.TV, a subscription service where baseball fans can watch live games online in high definition. The site streams 100 games a week to hundreds of thousands of subscribers and the quality is hard to match.

If you prefer your baseball on the go, MLB has a series of iPhone apps including MLB At Bat, where fans can find the latest scores, standings and schedules, and MLB World Series 2009, an interactive game that features all 30 MLB clubs.

The official MLB site contains various other ways to get your baseball fix, including a series of blogs, podcasts, video clips and photo galleries. There is also an official Facebook page where social networkers can step up to the plate.

4. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

The FBI, America's hub of criminal investigation with a reputation for secrecy, recently announced a slew of online efforts that will make the agency more open and approachable.

The Bureau's official Twitter feed shares criminal alerts and press releases with its thousands of followers and similar content is shared on the official FBI Facebook page. The videos featured on the FBI's YouTube channel give an insider's view of such operations as bomb training and prostitution stings.

In an effort to spread news of and apprehend the fugitives on its famed Most Wanted List, the FBI also has several widgets available that anyone can embed on their blog, site or social network profile and apparently the new media approach is working. The widgets have directed more than 2.5 million people to the FBI website and the Most Wanted widget averages more than a thousand views a day, according to a press release.

The FBI even plans to take its Most Wanted list to Second Life where virtual visitors can keep tabs on real-life criminals.

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A is for Audio: The ABCs of Multimedia

2009-05-14T12:56:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when multimedia journalists have too much time on their hands.

Illustrated in Photoshop, animated with Flash. Sound recorded and edited with Adobe Audition. Enjoy!

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10 Dos and don'ts of a successful tech-fueled presentation

2009-05-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

The summer conference season is around the corner and with it a number of PowerPoint presentations, slideshows, workshops, speeches and demos that all rely on modern technology to come to life. Make sure yours is the best it can possibly be with the following dos and don'ts:

1. Do position your mic properly

The most common mistake among presenters is holding the microphone at an improper angle that prevents the audience from hearing every word clearly. If you're using a handheld mic, take a cue from broadcast journalists and make sure it is held approximately six inches away from you pointed directly at your mouth. If you are using a tabletop mic — especially one being used by multiple speakers — make sure the microphone is pointed directly at you before you begin speaking. This will prevent having to interrupt your thought to adjust the mic.

Also, if you plan not to use a microphone at all, don't assume your voice is loud enough to be heard in the back of the room. Speak in your loudest, least screaming voice, but be prepared for a little technical amplification.

2. Don't hide behind your computer

For many speakers, being very near to the computer during the entire session is absolutely necessary to keep up with the points to be made. Often though, the computer is being used a crutch and as an excuse not to face a room full of staring eyes. When making each point, step away from the computer and engage with those in the room, briefly making eye contact with the audience before stepping back to the table or lectern.

This is also important for sessions that are being photographed: if you never step away from the podium, you may appear as a bluish, alien-like figure.

3. Don't pace

Walking back and forth while explaining concepts can be second nature to some speakers, but for the audience it can be distracting. The overall effect is much like watching a tennis match with eyes darting back and forth. If the session is being recorded, it can also be troublesome for the poor camera guy who has to pan back and forth throughout the session. It is okay to do a little pit of pacing, just make sure to stay in one spot for a while before doing so.

4. Do lose the badge

Conference badges are often hideous, ugly things; shiny white pieces of paper attached to the front of the speaker like a note pinned to a lost child. And this is exactly what you don't want the audience to be concentrating on while you're giving your amazing presentation. Take off your badge during your talk, especially if you are under glare-producing bright lights. The audience will likely already know who you are by the time you begin speaking and you can always put it back on after.

5. Don't be a copycat

If you're using PowerPoint or similar to software to conduct your workshop, be sure that you are not reading exactly what is on the screen. This is a surefire way to lose the audience's interest as they will know in advance exactly what you are going to say. Instead, make bullet points with succinct sentences the give the general idea of what you are going to say. Expound upon these bullet points by giving examples, therefore giving the audience an incentive to keep listening.

6. Do prepare for internet failure

Usually when giving a presentation, the speaker has an allotted amount of time in which to make their points. Don't usurp this time by trying to figure out why the live website or multimedia component you are trying to demo isn't working. If your internet connection conks out, be prepared by having screenshots or static examples of what you were going to show and move on. If this isn't possible, try not to make a big scene about it. Which bring us to...

7. Don't fight with the tech

If something goes wrong, be it a failed internet connection or a faulty mic, do not have a beleaguered exchange with technical support or the audience about how everything has gone wrong. Profuse apologies, cursing, or muttering under your breath about malfunctioning equipment does not make the audience feel bad for you — depending on your level of exasperation you may come off looking like a nutjob.

8. Do pause for questions

Speakers often have a lot to say and a little time to say it in and thus feel rushed to get through the entire presentation. This, however, leaves the audience at a loss when it comes to asking questions about something that has just been said. The natural inclination is to take questions at the end, but often there are so many piled up that some may go unanswered. After making a major point, pause and ask the audience if they have any questions about what's been said. Often they do and it breaks up the monotony of hearing the same voice for an hour or so.

9. Do have a takeaway

If your talk has included examples of online projects or sites, be sure to let the audience know where they can find the information you've just shared. Either make a handout or create an online site with links to all the relevant items you've just covered. Many tech-savvy presenters use sites like Scribd or Slideshare, featured below, to make the entire presentation available online.

WHAT IS GRAPHIC DESIGN? (Intro to GD, Wk 1)

10. Do some social networking

At the end of your workshop or seminar, have a slide or an awesome business card that has your Twitter name, email, Facebook link or wherever the audience can find you online and ask follow up or share networking opportunities. This ensures that the presentation you prepared so much for won't be just a blip on the audience's radar.

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New York City, a mecca of multimedia journalism

2009-05-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

New York City...center of the universe. Okay not quite, but there are a lot of great multimedia stories and interactive projects emerging from the City that Never Sleeps.

There is perhaps no better way to take in the many landmarks of Manhattan than an aerial tour of the area. In today's economy, a helicopter ride perhaps isn't the most efficient means of transportation, but thanks to Pixelcase you can still take in magnificent views of the city. The interactive, panoramic photographs let users zoom across the New York skyline, above the noise and traffic. More on how to create similar panoramas here and here.

The following map of a horizonless Manhattan has been circulating around the internet for good reason: it is a unique take on the flat map we are so used to seeing. The map, created by London design studio Schulze & Webb, was created and fine-tuned using 3D imaging software.

The City Concealed, a project of THIRTEEN, explores some of the hidden gems of New York City through a series of online videos. Offbeat locales such as the tombs and catacombs of Green-Wood Cemetery and Brooklyn Navy Yard — places likely overlooked by even native New Yorkers — are profiled. (Link courtesy of @fgeorge)

While the sights and sounds of NYC are fascinating, it is the city's more than 8 million residents that bring it to life. Tough Times, a project created by students at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, uses a combination of print stories, Flash, audio slideshows and video to tell the stories of New Yorkers struggling with the current economic crisis.

For example, the harrowing story of Maisha Morales, a single mother from Brooklyn, is detailed in a print story, but her raw emotion emerges from the accompanying video. A thoughtful analysis of Morales' situation is explained in an easy-to-navigate Flash infographic.

Local publication amNY also has a comprehensive collection of interactive photo slideshows and video, including "Young and Muslim in NYC," a series of video interviews complemented by traditional print stories.

Of course, one cannot discuss multimedia in New York City without mentioning the New York Times. The new media powerhouse is known for its captivating projects that explore global and national issues, but some of its most intriguing are those that focus on the city itself.

One such example is One in 8 Million, a series of audio slideshows that explore the lives of average New Yorkers. Stories include those of Melissa Dixson, a painter turned taxidermist and Christian Hubert, a bicyclist who suffers from vertigo.

The project is reminiscent of the Going to the End of the Line photo story featured in this post. The project focused on stations at the end of train lines where most commuters never venture.

The Water Dance, another photo slideshow from the New York Times, takes a simple, often overlooked moment and visualizes it as a metaphor for humanity. The result is one of the most captivating multimedia pieces to emerge this year.

One point should remain clear: While New York attracts creative minds from all over the world, the city does not have a monopoly on multimedia journalism. Large papers like the New York Times may have vast resources, but compelling multimedia projects can be created by anyone anywhere.

Have a multimedia story or project you're proud of? Share it in the comments and it just might be featured here on 10,000 Words.

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The Top 7 types of Twitter avatars

2009-05-05T06:59:00.000-07:00

With just 73x73 pixels to communicate your brand or personality, picking the right Twitter avatar can be a difficult process. A good avatar has to be memorable, well-designed and most of all stand out from the pack. Nevertheless, many Twitter avatars fall into several categories. Here are the most popular:

Logos

With so many news organizations and other companies jumping on the Twitter bandwagon, many familiar logos are being transformed into avatars, yet are still instantly recognizable. Most of these avatars are a no-brainer to create.

Professional headshots

Nothing says I'm a professional like a classy photo with perfect lighting and the perfect smile. These are great for people who represent a company or institution and usually scream "I mean business."

Cool headshots

The cool headshot is a carryover of the type of photo you'd see used as a default Facebook or MySpace picture. These avatars say "I might be professional, but I've got tons of personality."

Colorized headshots

Designers, entertainers and all-around creative people seem to favor the colorized photo, which is even cooler than the cool headshot. The tweeters with these avatars are eager to break away from the pack, stand up and be noticed.

Illustrated avatars

The illustrated avatar often signifies that the Tweeter has a larger-than-life personality that cannot be expressed in a regular photo.

Pop culture icons

One of the easiest ways to establish your personal brand of cool is to adopt the personality of a pop culture icon. These tweeps aren't necessarily associated with a brand and are free to co-opt the iconic imagery of someone or something else.

Mascots

Mascots are used by companies and online services as a figurehead for the brand. Therefore, it is natural that the mascot also serves as the avatar.

Of course, avatars are not limited to Twitter and ideally the same one should be used on multiple social networking sites. Media companies and established brands especially should use the same avatar across the web, on their own sites and as their favicon. Wherever your avatar is used, be sure it's a good one that works for you and stick to it. Just be sure it doesn't look like this:

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Composite photography: A new twist to an old medium

2009-04-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

A picture is worth a thousand words, but what about multiple photos that have been merged together?

The above photo of New York's Times Square by photographer Peter Funch is a stunning example of composite photography, or multiple photos take over time that have been digitally stitched together.

Equally fascinating photos have been created by (from top to bottom) Tom Mason, Ben Zvan and Ho-Yeol Ryu.

The above photo of a series of planes taking off from a single runway is arresting and like many similar photographs in the genre, was likely created with a good dose of Photoshop.

Composite photography mirrors panoramic imagery in which a series of photos is stitched together to give a wider perspective. Both types of photography can be created digitally, the former by combining a series of photos shot in one location to merge time. A similar effect can be created using multiple exposure or combination printing, both of which are explained in detail here. The result is a single image that more accurately represents the vibrancy of and goings-on at a single location.

The same principles of composite photography can be applied to motion photography as shown in the video below. To illustrate the difficulty of one level of the video game Mario World, 134 attempts to best the round were merged into a single video. The result is both unique and telling and the complex juju required to create the video, a full explanation of which can be found here, is worth a read.

One example of composite photography's place in the newsroom is this David Bergman's photo of the recent presidential inauguration. The technique can also be used to enhance sports/action photography, as evidenced in the photo below by wootang71 (more sequence photos can be found here).

It is essential to note that composite photography skirts the line between photograph and illustration and in a news context should be labeled as the latter. However, this shouldn't discourage photographers from trying the technique and adding a new dimension to their work.

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How to shoot great video quickly and efficiently

2009-04-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

Shooting great video doesn't have to be a time-consuming process. By streamlining your workflow and limiting the chance for mistakes, you can reduce the time needed to shoot and edit your masterpiece.

Pre-production

When breaking news hits, the videographer is tasked with grabbing the camera and running out of the door with little preparation and often a vague idea of what needs to be filmed. But for those video projects for which prep time is available, it is a good idea to brainstorm what the video should look like before you go out to shoot.

Take a minute to consider and jot down the various setups, interviews and shots you'd like to capture. For example, if the story is about a bake sale, consider interviews with the bakers, including shots of the baked goods, people eating them, etc. If you are so inclined, draw a storyboard but leave it open-ended as news videography is often subject to unforeseeable change. The story itself shouldn't be planned ahead, but at least by brainstorming, you'll have an ideas of what the shoot will entail.

For novice videographers, a good portion of the time wasted in the field is experimenting with the video camera's various settings. Before going on a shoot, become familiar with the camera and know how to quickly access essential features like white balance and focus.

Once you and the camera have become best friends, remember to bring its buddies along: a good set of headphones, the appropriate microphone(s) for your shooting situation and extra tapes and batteries just in case. Nothing drags down video production like having to run back to grab a missing piece of equipment.

In the field

Before you begin shooting, limit the amount of unusable video by testing your audio levels beforehand. Prior to an interview, have the subject speak naturally into the microphone for as long as it takes to determine that the audio quality is perfect. Audio meters can give you an idea if sound is indeed being recorded, but use headphones to be doubly sure and, if possible, keep them on for the duration of the shoot.

Cut down on the time spent in the edit room by only shooting what you need. Before you hit the record button ask yourself "Is this necessary for the end product or am I just bored or antsy?" An itchy trigger finger will result in loads of necessary film. On the other hand, shooting B-roll, or video footage used to supplement the main idea, is necessary to give the video some flavor and break up lengthy interviews. Just be cautious not to overshoot.

For those shots you do need, capture each one in close up, medium, and wide angle so you will have options when you finally begin editing. Additionally, be sure to hold each shot for at least 10 seconds to ensure the shot is usable. There is nothing worse than having a great shot that is rendered useless because it is too short. If the video is intended exclusively for the web, concentrate on close ups as it is harder to make out important details on a relatively small computer screen.

The human brain is by nature forgetful so while you are shooting, create a log of your shots which will reduce the time spent looking for them later. Feel free to note whether a shot was good or bad and if it should be included in the final product. Once finished, label your tapes so they can be easily located.

The edit room

It's tempting to walk away from the edit bay as your video is being imported, but depending on its length, it is good idea to keep an eye on what has been shot, even if you have kept a detailed log. This will help in quickly identifying whether a shot turned out good or bad and will serve as a reminder of the sequence of events.

Most experts agree that online video should be at the most 4 to 5 minutes in length to ensure that it is watched from beginning to end by finicky web viewers. When editing, include succinct soundbites and be sure that interviewees are not repeating the same points. Avoid time spent selecting fancy transitions and wipes by just omitting them altogether. Include only what is absolutely necessary to tell the story and makes for compelling video.

Thanks to @danielday for suggesting today's post.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• How to edit your video online for free or cheap
• Newspapers on YouTube: Dos and Don'ts
• 9 Telltale signs of amateur video
• What if YouTube died tomorrow?: The alternatives you need to know

How to turn online social networking into real-life relationships

2009-04-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

I have a confession: I used to be painfully shy in unfamiliar situations, especially when it came to networking. A room full of people chatting away for me felt like walking through a minefield...obviously not a good trait for a journalist.

I eventually learned to suck it up and jump in the fray, but in today's internet age, making meaningful connections is much easier. The following tips for expanding your network and contacts in a digital environment will help you translate those online connections into lasting real-world relationships.

Find a niche social network

The first step to building relationships online is joining social networks that appeal to you. For digital journos, the place to be is Wired Journalists, the social network where writers, producers and editors share job-related tips and events. Similar social networks exist for every conceivable profession, hobby or interest. Finding the right one is as easy as searching sites like Find a Social Network or Go2Web20's community page. There will you find networks populated by others with similar interests, which is highly favorable over broader social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook.

Blog

If you have a niche blog, you already have an established place to network. Kibitz with those leaving comments on your blog, find more about them and who they are beyond the online username. Blogging is also a great way to establish oneself as a player in a particular field or profession and attract others to you. More tips on blogging can be found at this previous post.

If you don't have a blog, start one and begin leaving comments and interacting with other fellow bloggers. You won't have a following overnight, but over time your network will grow. And because you're sitting behind a computer, networking becomes less of a daunting task.

Tweet!

It's no secret that Twitter is the social network du jour for finding like-minded individuals. For 10,000 Words that means interacting with the many journalists on Twitter, but by doing a simple search you can find others who share the same interests or career as you do.

Because the end goal of all this networking is to establish real-life relationships, consider searching for Twitter users near you. Third-party sites like TwitterLocal, localtweeps, and Twellow make searching by zip code easy, thus increasing the chances of an offline relationship. If you haven't signed up for Twitter already, do it now, write a few relevant tweets and be sure not to fall for the common mistakes made by Twitter newbies.

Have an online portfolio

When meeting others, you have mere seconds to show them your personality and make a good impression, something that is easier said than done. If your end goal for social networking is to get a job or further your career, it is essential to create an online portfolio that is a representation of who you are. It doesn't have to be fancy — just a representation of or links to your work — but it should showcase your personality and what sets you apart from others. Your online portfolio should also include your updated résumé, contact information, and — if you're up to it — a photo of yourself.

The disadvantage of professional social networking sites like LinkedIn is it is difficult to stand out from the crowd and make a lasting impression. When you do start establishing relationships, it is better to have something personal to send people to rather than a staid fact sheet. For a list of great online portfolios that are unique and full of personality, click here.

Revamp your business card

Before you start meeting people in real life, you've got to have a great business card that, like your online portfolio, sets you apart from others. A company-issued, black-text-on-white-card-stock piece of paper won't cut it anymore. Like the unique business cards on this list, your business card to should use bold colors and fonts to make it come alive. It should list your email, online portfolio, blog, Twitter name, LinkedIn name, Flickr account...everywhere you can be found online (that you don't mind other people seeing). For an example, check out my personal business card below.

Introduce yourself

The one crucial step to shifting online contacts to offline associates is introducing yourself personally. For casual relationships, a simple "Hey my name is (blank) and I saw your comment/post/tweet about (blank) I'd like to chat with you some time about it." A small compliment goes a long way, as does a sunny disposition.

Invite the person for lunch at a inexpensive restaurant or a chat over a cup of coffee. Meeting at a nearby coffee shop is a great way to introduce yourself without being overzealous. Most importantly, don't be overbearing. You don't want the other party to think you are a stalker, a spammer or that you are needy or desperate. If they decline, simply move on and resist the urge to send follow-up emails or phone calls.

Go where the community is

So you've established online connections...it's time to put them to use. Find upcoming mixers, conferences or tweetups near you where you will find those with similar interests or career paths. Learn who will attend ahead of time and employ the aforementioned techniques so that when you arrive at the event you'll already know a few people there. Be sure to hand them your business card, which — if it is as unique as this post advises — should be a great conversation starter and possibly the beginning of a lasting relationship.

Thanks to costa_kout for answering the call and suggesting today's post. Got something you want to see on 10,000 Words? Send a tweet to @10000Words. Flickr photo by cybertoad.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• Essential social networks for journalists
• Pump up your portfolio via mobile or video
• The 20 Essential RSS Feeds for Multimedia Journalists
• Classifieds 2.0: Social networks for brides and the deceased
• How to make the most of your journalism internship

Why journalists should learn to code (and why some shouldn't bother)

2009-04-20T22:03:00.001-07:00

In this era of new media and technology, journalists are being asked to acquire skills beyond reporting and writing, probably the most daunting of which is learning basic computer programming. Some argue that coding skills are an essential part of working in a new media environment, while many traditional journalists balk at the idea, saying computer programming is not why they signed up for the profession.

Both sides have valid arguments: learning basic HTML, CSS or other programming languages helps journalists create their own online content and understand the parameters of technical journalism. On the other hand, refusing to learn coding may be more than just stubbornness or old media thinking.

Being both a journalist and a programmer/coder requires use of both sides of the brain. The left brain, which relies on logic and analysis, is more apt for synthesizing computer processes; the right brain relies more on intuition and creative thought, essential skills for a successful journalist. Because journalists are more likely to be right-brain thinkers, asking a writer to code is basically asking someone to rethink the way they think (To find out what kind of thinker you are, take this short quiz).

This is why such skills are at odds with each other and learning coding is not as easy as just picking up a book. One must tap into both hemispheres of the brain and think both analytically and intuitively to thrive in the new era of journalism.

So why should journalists bother to learn coding? If anything, learning how to build online and interactive stories gives journos a greater understanding of how web-based journalism is created and how they can enhance traditional print or broadcast stories. As with all multimedia skills, journos are more likely to be invested in the technical process if they have an idea of what's possible.

Also, learning computer skills makes journalists less dispensable and, for the unemployed, more marketable for future employment, which — let's be honest — can't hurt in the industry's current tumultuous state. Many journalism jobs now require someone who has both coding skills and writing experience, the latter of which many traditional computer programmers lack. Because many coders and developers aren't exactly rushing out to learn about inverted pyramids and cutlines, this gives the coding journalist an advantage.

There are many working journalists/programmers, some of whom are more fluent in one side or the other, and with computer programming being taught in J-Schools, even more should emerge in the coming years.

Learning HTML/CSS is useful for building web-based projects and knowledge of ActionScript is necessary for working in Flash environments. But unless you're planning a career as a developer, a deep understanding of Django, PHP or Ruby on Rails is not required.

It's encouraging to see participants at the Knight Digital Media Center training workshops and other similar efforts take the basic web design skills they pick up and go on to create their own online stories or web-based projects.

For those interested in learning basic computer programming, start with the online tutorials at W3Schools or any of the books in the For Dummies series. Additional online tutorials can be found at lynda.com, News University or any of the sites listed in this previous post.

There are journalists whose prowess remains in the written word and they shouldn't be admonished for sticking to what they know. Those who choose to adhere to long-standing forms of print or broadcast journalism shouldn't fret, but know that there will come a time when basic coding will become an integral part of a journalist's duties. It's better to jump on the bandwagon now than to be left in the dust later on.

Also on 10,000 Words:

• Essential multimedia tutorials and resources for do-it-yourself training
• What is...? A handy guide for the new media novice
• Journalists: Change starts with you
• Multimedia Picker: Choose the right medium for your message
• Why J-Schools matter

Databases and polls: When numbers are the news

2009-04-14T07:48:00.000-07:00

Many news organizations have for years culled news stories from analog databases such as police records or census information and most online news media have set up quick polls that are attached to their news stories. Because of the internet and the multimedia tools available to us, we can do more with the facts and figures we might otherwise overlook. The following sites and news sections have taken ordinary numbers and have turned them into extraordinary resources.

SickCity

SickCity harnesses a simple, but impressive idea: use Twitter to gauge how sick people are in a particular area. Using Twitter to find out if the flu is spreading within 10 miles of New York City, for example, is as easy searching for "flu near:NYC within:10mi." Putting it all together is what SC has done well, compiling information on various diseases as they spread in cities around the world.

Risky Roads Traffic Map

Does it feel like there are more traffic accidents than normal happening in your area? Find out for sure with this interactive map that uses colored dots to display the frequency of fatal accidents across the U.S. The genius of this project is that traffic fatality numbers are often readily available to news organizations, but it is when they are displayed in this sort of interactive environment that the gravity of the numbers sinks in.

ZipWho.com

ZipWho has taken readily available census information and converted it into a database, searchable by zip code or by demographic information. A zip code search of a particular Kansas City neighborhood reveals that of its more than 14,000 residents, the median age is about 30 and 6.5 percent have a college degree. The latter statistic is low compared to the national average, as evidenced in the percentile column on the right.

Tampa Bay Mug Shots

Police mugshots as a group can be an unintentionally humorous collection which leaves the criminals exposed, which is perhaps why some reacted negatively to the St. Petersburg Times' news project on its debut. The site culls what is already publicly available and brings to light common trends amongst area criminals, something a simple rehash of the police docket could not do. People may be tsk tsking now, but look for similar sites to pop up in the future.

More after the jump

ownyourC.com

Most mainstream media news sites have incorporated polls either on their front page or on individual stories. Usually they are built with the site's CMS and thus aren't visually interesting. OwnyourC flips the notion of what a poll can be by offering a stunning, Flash-based poll that incorporates animation but still makes the question the focal point. Lest you think the site is all razzle dazzle, the submitted answers can be broken down by age, gender and location.

GoodvBad

GoodvBad isn't exactly breaking new ground with its collection of polls, but it is worth noting here. Site visitors are presented with a subject and are asked if something is either good or bad. What's remarkable is the collection of polls in one place and the simplistic manner of eliciting responses.

Toronto Star's sexually transmitted disease maps

Knowing whether your neighborhood has a high rate a chlamydia is a little more alarming than knowing if the flu is going around, but if you need such information the Star has made it available. Neighborhoods are broken down into blocks and assigned a color on the heat map: the darker the color, the higher the chance your neighbor is harboring an unwelcome visitor. The map is even searchable by address. Disturbing? Yes. Useful? Absolutely.

Also on 10,000 Words

• Innovative multimedia centered on the ordinary and everyday
• News databases: Turning numbers into knowledge
• Visual and interactive guides to the economic crisis
• Tracking down criminals with crime maps
• 15 Ways to follow the 2008 election online